REVIEW: 'Cabaret' at Park Playhouse

ALBANY - "Cabaret" at Park Playhouse is a show worth paying for. Fortunately most seats at the Washington Park Lake House in Albany are free.

"Cabaret" is not typical outdoor summer theater. Even though the songs are among the best to be found in any contemporary American musical, it is as much a serious drama as it is a musical. It does, after all, take place in Germany in 1931 during the rise of the Nazi Party.

Somehow director Michael LoPorto deftly keeps the material in balance as the show is somber without neglecting the entertainment aspects of the work. For example Shannon Rafferty who plays Sally Bowles has two standout numbers - "Maybe This Time" in the first act and "Cabaret" in the second.

Rafferty is an excellent actress who is a strong musical performer. Combining both talents she breaks your heart with the drama contained in each song. But because the songs are so integrated in the show the experience is cathartic rather than sadly depressing.

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"Cabaret" centers on the doomed relationship between Sally and Cliff a struggling American writer. They meet in the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy Berlin nightclub where Sally performs. She is a free spirit, he is a serious artist. Their relationship is as shallow as the society in which they live, but their outsider status (along with historical hindsight) permits a look at the fate that awaits the nation.

LoPorto permits and encourages a fresh look at the characters. Rafferty is more naughty than tawdry and this makes Sally appear a bit of a pretender in the opening act. The role of Cliff can be invisible and thankless, but Jacob A. Ware creates a real person by making him a more assertive presence.

Interesting, Rafferty's choice is redeemed in the second act as her approach helps the audience understand her vulnerability and pain as her shallow world collapses. On the other hand, Ware's Cliff tends to be a tad too unbending and his problems seem self-inflicted rather than forced upon him. We lose some sympathy for him in the second act.

The star of the show is Jason Jacoby who plays the iconic role of The Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub. Jacoby is magnetic. He's a fine actor, and strong singer and dancer. In this production, LoPorto makes him a continual presence as he is almost always on stage silently commenting on the action.

Often the role is designed to mirror the increasing decadence of Berlin and reflect Germany's growing acceptance of fascism. Jacoby makes a different choice. He represents the unaware of society who are powerless to stop the horror that is coming. It's a smart choice and an excellent portrayal.

The rest of the cast is strong. Micah Bond is impressive as Ernst. He shows Cliff's German friend as an affable person and as a man who is unwavering in his dedication to the wrong political cause. Susan Jeffare and Larry Greenbush are tender as the older couple whose romance is as doomed as is the future of Germany. Julia Register is fun as the brazen Frauline Schneider.

The chorus is among the best seen at Park Playhouse in several years. This is an attractive, personable group of people who are strong dancers who do well with Geoffrey-Doing-Marx's choreography. Likewise the 9-piece orchestra under the direction of Justin P. Cowen enhances every number without overpowering the performances. It's all played on an extremely attractive and functional set designed by William Davis.

"Cabaret" is an impressive offering by Park Playhouse. The adult musical is a change from their usual family fare and might be inappropriate for young children. But a quality show like this - offered mostly for free - should attract large adult audiences.